It’s official, December has begun and the countdown to Christmas is real, whether or not you’re actually counting down with an advent calendar. For a lot of reasons, the festive season is a reason to be, well, festive. Soon you’ll be reunited with your friends and family around a well-decorated, generously set table, catching up with those you haven’t seen for a while and creating new memories with everyone present. And, for most of us anyway, there are actual presents as well. You’ll probably be able to enjoy a couple of days off and spend some time away from your desk. Great.
Yet that whole countdown to Christmas period can be pretty stressful as well. First, you’ve got to find all those presents you want to give to everyone and if you’re hosting, it can be pretty tricky to think of a Christmas meal that takes everyone into account. Once you’ve made that list, you have to brave the supermarket, which usually tends to be pretty busy this time of year. Meanwhile, at work, everyone is rushing to get things wrapped up for the year and ready to start with a new, clean slate. Honestly, the festive season can be a rat race on its own.
Therefore, taking some time for yourself is you can is all the more important. Sure, you’ve got plenty of stuff to do and you’re busy-busy-busy, but trust us: a day or even a couple of hours of relaxation will only make you more productive afterwards. Sometimes, you need to slow down to be able to move forward and now is such a time. But what to do when you want to take a breath and just do nothing for a while? Where do you go? Where to find some peace and quiet?
At the spa, of course. The beauty of spas is the fact that everyone tends to be there for the same reason, which means there’s little chance you’ll be exposed to chaos, loud noises or stressed feelings. Instead, they tend to be a safe haven filled with relaxing sounds, cozily warm baths and saunas where you can sweat your stress away – we don’t know for certain if that’s a thing but if not, it should be. Finding a good spa, however, isn’t always easy if you don’t know where to start, so that’s why we’ve selected three great locations around Brussels where you’re sure to calm down.
1. Waer Waters
If you’re looking for an all-in-one experience, Waer Waters might be your best option in around Brussels. Not only will you find a quite gigantic wellness center but there’s also a restaurant and a hotel. Perfect if you really want to make a day out of it and relax as much as possible, either alone or with your partner or a friend. Whether you prefer to go in a swimming suite or naked, to a hot bath or a cold one, to a sauna or hammam: it’s all here in one place.
2. Thermae Boetfort, Melsbroek
Another big wellness center is Thermae Boetfort, located in Melsbroek just outside of Brussels. The set-up resembles that of Waer Waters, meaning it’s also the perfect place to go with a bigger group of friends or family. As there are so many options to choose from and so many arrangements to book, there’ll most certainly be something for everyone. Sounds pretty cool as a hangover-treat after the holidays too, if you ask us. Little extra: the spa is located on a castle domain, making the whole experience even more enjoyable.
3. Bath and Barley, Brussels
And now what may well be our favorite spa of this little list. Sure, it’s no endless wellness center with loads of options to choose from. But if you’re looking for an epic Belgian take on a spa, Bath and Barley is where you want to go. Here, you don’t bathe in water but in a beer-like mixture. Pretty cool, isn’t it? The mix of water, hops and herbs in the tub is heated to 39°C and the wooden tubs are perfect for a relaxation session. If you can’t get enough, there’s also a hop sauna to hop into afterwards. Also, during your bath, you’re free to drink any beer you want from the taps within reach of your tub. So maybe don’t try out this one if you’ve had too much to drink the night before…
